Microsoft joins group against Google-ITA deal

FairSearch.org has been appealing to the U.S. Department of Justice to scrutinize the deal, which critics say would give Google an unfair competitive advantage in online travel. ITA Software is the leader in airfare and airline schedule searching, and its technology is used by firms such as Expedia, Travelocity and Kayak.

Those companies were founding members of the coalition, which is urging an antitrust review. Microsoft, and spin-off Expedia, separately expressed concern to the Justice Department in September. Microsoft uses ITA technology in the travel section of Bing.

FairSearch.org has been fairly successful in getting its message out. Last month, Consumer Reports wrote that it had concerns about the Google-ITA deal, and on Dec. 1 the U.S. House antitrust subcommittee chairman sent a letter to the Justice Department, urging a probe.

UK-based comparison engine Foundem and French online travel agency Level…com also became new members of FairSearch.org. Microsoft did not immediately respond to a seattlepi.com request for comment.

Updated 10:14 a.m.: Microsoft sent the following statement:

As an ITA Software customer, Microsoft’s ability to continue providing innovative ways for consumers to find the best flights at the lowest prices online rests on a competitive market for travel technology. Microsoft is joining FairSearch.org to help raise awareness of how the proposed Google-ITA merger could hurt travelers by slowing innovation and contributing to higher travel costs.